When a company is breaking the law or treating its customers poorly, someone within the company has to stand up for what is right. These people are usually called whistleblowers. If you have reported a business for wrongdoing or are planning on reporting one, you deserve to have an attorney who will stand up for you. At Law Offices of Gina Mendola Longarzo, L.L.C., we provide legal services to individuals and can help you.
Whistleblowing is the right thing to do, but it can be risky. It is very important to have a lawyer in your corner to protect your interests and explain the process to you. We will take the time to listen to your concerns and answer all of your questions.
Many types of actions can cause a person to be considered a whistleblower, including:
We are highly familiar with the laws that protect whistleblowers from employer retaliation, such as the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA). We will fight in and out of the courtroom to protect your rights.
How the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) Works
The New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (“CEPA”) (N.J.S.A. §§ 34:19-1 – 34:19-8) is one of the most protective whistleblower statutes in the country. It offers broad protections for employees who:
Even if you are wrong about the activity you reported – for example, your company was not actually performing Medicare fraud – you are still protected by CEPA. So, you cannot be retaliated against for whistleblowing even if the company or employee wasn’t actually doing anything wrong. You just need to have an “objective reasonable belief” that illegal, unethical or fraudulent conduct occurred.
Almost all employees are protected by CEPA, even those who may be considered independent contractors. CEPA covers both private sector and public employees.
What is considered retaliation?
Sometimes it can be difficult to ascertain if you have been retaliated against. If you reported bad behavior by your boss, and then he starts being unfriendly towards you, this is not necessarily retaliation. To legally constitute retaliation, you must have suffered a real, negative employment change.
Adverse employment actions such as the following are covered:
Can an employee recover compensation for suffering retaliation in New Jersey?
Yes, if you win a CEPA case you are entitled to a monetary award. Types of compensation available are:
Each case is different. Our Chatham, New Jersey discrimination attorneys at Law Offices of Gina Mendola Longarzo, LLC evaluate the details of your circumstances and work towards obtaining you maximum compensation.
We represent clients in both state and federal trial and appellate courts in New Jersey. Call Law Offices of Gina Mendola Longarzo, L.L.C. at 973 635 2901 or contact us online to schedule your consultation.